Locomotive-stoker



H. LINDSAY. LOCOMOTIVE STOKER. LICATION FILED APR. 9. 1917.

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H. LINDSAY. LOCUMOTIVE STOKER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1917.

Patented July 20, 1920.

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WI] 1 m 0 H u u Mm 1T M J a O H 3 24 4 uw @M as a M HAMILTON LINDSAY, F WILLOUGHBY, OHIO.

LOCOMOTIVE-STOKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application filed April 9, 1917. Serial No 160,631;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAMILToN LINDSAY,

a citizen of. the United States, residing at Willoughby, in the county of Lake and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locomotive-- Stokers, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description, reference being" had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mechanism adapted to feed coal automatically from a Another object is to cause comparatively even spreading of the coal over the fire bed by feeding it into the fire box with a sudden tossing action approximating that of hand shoveling. Another object is to insure regularity in the feeding of the desired quantity of proper sized coalfrom. the tender to i I the devices which throw it into the fire box.

To the above ends I have provided at-the fire box front a receptacle into which the coal may be continuously fed, and I cause a throwing blade to periodically engage coal in such receptacle and force it into the fire box. The blade preferably revolves with a variable speed of movement, having its quick action while in engagement with the coal to throw or toss it over the fire bed.

In the preferred form, the coal in the tender is caused to drop by gravity through a movable screening grate into ,a worm conveyer which carries it forward and discharges it into another wormconveyer located below the floor of the cab of the locomotive. This latter conveyer feeds the coal forwardly, and, adjacent *to the fire box, directs it upwardly along diverging passageways, which'lead to the receptaclesln com- -munication with the fire box. In each of these receptacles is one; of the revolving, variable speed throwing blades referred to. The throwing blades, the two conveyors, and the movable grate are all preferably driven by a suitable device on the locomotlve, as, for example, a small steam engine located in the cab. 1

My invention is. hereinafter more .fully described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereofshown in the drawings, and its essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive and-tender equipped with my automatic stoker; Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of the locomotive equipment looking toward the fire box; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus, being sectioned through the locomotive cab and the adjacent portion of the tender; Fig. 4 is a plan ofthe parts shown in Fig. 3'; Flg. 5 is a transverse section substantially on the line 55 on Fig. 3, looking toward the fire box; Fig. 6 is a vertical section through one of the hop pers adjacent the fire box, being on a plane parallel with Fig. 3; Fig 7 is a sectional side elevation of the hopper and throwing blade gears, as indicated by the line 77 on Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a substantially horizontal section through the hopper on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9'is a detail of the worm feed and deflector at the fire box end, being a sectionalplan; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through the feeding device in the tender;

Fig. 11 is a detail of the mechanism for rocking the tender grate, being sectioned through the shaft thereof; Fig. 12 is a transverse section through the tender conveyer; Fig. 13 is a perspective of the throw I ing blade used in either of the receptacles adjacent the fire box; Fig. A is a cross section through one of the bearings for the shafts extending into the hoppers.

In the drawings, A indicates a locomotive having a fire box with the usual inclined end B. This fire box has the usual inner sheet B separated by a water space. C indicates the cab and C the fioor thereof. D indicates the tender having a water space D and a fuel space D at the base of which is a floor D The exact construction and arrangement of these parts, of course, differs greatlyfiin different installations, and the example shown isto be taken as illustrative of any locomotive and tender to which my stoking mechanism is applicable.

I will first describe the mechanism mount ed on the tender to receive the coal and feed 3, 4, 10, 11 and 12.

it forward to the locomotive proper. For this, reference should be had to Figs. 1, 2,

The conveying mechanism for the tender is mounted in a central compartment thereof, which I provide beneath the coal space, by utilizing apart that is ordinarily water space. That is to say, beneath the floor D of the tender I provide a suitable vertical" wall 10 about the sides and far end of a central space, which is open below and at the end near the locomotive. Within this space 1 mount a trough 12 secured to the under side of the tender floor. A suitable opening 11 through the floor discharges into this trough. Within the mouth of the trough, substantially on the line of the floor is a rocking grate 13, and within the trough is a Worm conveyer 14.

The grate and conveyer worm are properly moved to effect a discharge by gravity of coal in the tender into the worm trough,

and the forward feeding thereof toward the locomotive. The grate is shown as having trunnions 16 and 17 at its opposite ends, by which it is supported. Suitable means,

hereinafter described, act on one of these trunnions to rock the grate to shake coal of proper size regularly into the conveyer trough.

The conveyer worm 14 is shown as having a shaft 20 journaled in bearings adjacent the two ends of the trough. At the rear end the bearings may be carried by the end wall of the trough. At the forward end the trough has an upwardly inclined bottom 15 through which the shaft 20 projects, the

bearing 21 at this end being carried on theunder side of this inclined bottom. The rotation of the worm 14 and the rocking of the grate results infeeding the coal from the tender forwardly and discharging it at the front. endof the trough which is formed I couple the driving shaft 26 of the tender conveyerwith the driving mechanism, hereinafter described, on the locomotive, by

means of universal joints 30 and 31 and an intermediate shaft 32, and I arrange the shaft 26' to be slidable in its bearings 27 and I make the pinion 25 of considerable length,

so that the shaft 26 may shift longitudiinto a spout 22 to freely overhang a suitable hopper 011 the locomotive conveyer.

To rotate the'worm, its shaft is provided on the rear end with a gear wheel 24 meshing with'a pinion 25 ona shaft 26, which is shown as carried in brackets 27 secured to the sides of the trough.. To oscillate the grate I provide its rear trunnion 16 with apair of depending arms 28 which are adapted to be successively engaged by pins 29 on the gear 24. The pins and arms 28 coact after the manner of an anchor escapement. As the pin engages one arm it raises it, sliding under "it, tipping the grate upwardly on that side and, downwardly on the other side. Then, as the pin engages the opposite arm, the "rate is rocked in the opposite direction. is many pins as desired may nally, or may change its position bodily with reference to the locomotive, without disturbing the driving connection. F or similar reasons the spout 22 of the tender con- "veyer is not positively connected with the locomotive conveyer, but simply overhangs it and discharges into it.

When the tender is to be uncoupled from the locomotive it is only necessary, as far as the stoker is concerned, to uncouple the driving connection to the shaft 26. For this purpose I' have made the shaft 32 separable from the universal joint 31, normally connected to it by a pin 33 locked at 341" The locomotive conveyer, which receives the coal discharged from the tender conveyer and carries it to the receptacles adj a-' cent to thefire box, has a tubular casing 40 located beneath the cab floor-C, a suitable hopper 41 discharging into such casing, and a pair of diverging pipes 43 and 44 leading diagonally upwardly. on opposite sides of the casing along the front of the fire box and through the cab floor and terminating in the two receptacles 45 and 46. A rotatable worm 50 within the casing 40 feeds the material forward where it is directed by a double-inclined wall 42 into the two branch conduits 43 and 44. Thus a constant supply of coal is maintained in each receptacle.

The worm 50 is mounted on a shaft 51 having bearings in castings closing the-0pposite ends of the casing 40, the forward casting 47 formingthe deflecting walls 42. At the rear end this shaft is provided with a spur gear 54 which meshes with a pinion 55 on the same driving shaft 60 which carries'one member of the universal joint 31.

Accordingly, the rotation of this shaft 'f'otates the worms of the locomotive conveyer be used for this purpose on the gear 24. I

have shown two pins, giving the grate two complete oscillations for each rotatlon of the worm.

and the tender conveyer in unisonf The ratio of the gears driving the worms 14 and 50, as shown, is such that the forward worm moves faster'than the rear worm, thus preventing congestion of coal in -the conveyer 40.

To drive the shaft 60, as well'as the throwing blades hereinafter described, I have shown asmall steam engine 62 mounted -on the end of the fire box and operating a shaft 63. This shaft isshown as connected by a sprocket wheel 64 and a sprocket chain 65 with a sprocket wheel 66 on a transverse low the floor of the cab. This latter shaft regular amount into the receptacles and 46. These receptacles are located along the end of the fire box, being secured to the fire box sheet-B by flanges 48. Each receptacle is preferably of the form shown in Figs. 6,

7 and 8, having a bottom 80 with a rectangular opening communicating with the conduit 43 or 44. The receptacle preferably extends upwardly a short distance in a rectangular,

form, and then has its rear wall rounded away from the fire box, as shown at 81, and

then continued upwardly at 82, parallel with the fire box. On the lower portion of its forward side the receptacle is in'free communication with the fire box, through an opening in the fire box wall through which coal may be thrown. About this opening the outer and inner sheets B and B of the fire box are connected by a transverse boiler sheet B surrounding the opening.

85 indicates a suitable chute leading from the receptacle forwardly through the opening provided into the fire box. This chute may rest on the boiler wall B and protect it from the coal. The chute preferably has diverging upturned wings 86 to properly direct the coal, which is thrown across the chute into the fire box.

To effectively throw coal from the receptacle 45 or 46 through the fire box opening described, so that it will be spread comparatively evenly over the fire bed, I provide a revolving blade 90 within the receptacle which rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6', and as it swings downwardly and forwardly engages the coal and throws it the receptacle 45.

into the fire box. The blade 90 may be of the form shown particularly in Fig. 13. These. blades in the two receptacles are preferably mounted on a single shaft 92 journaled in bearings carried by the side walls of the two receptacles and extending beyond At this latter end the shaft carries a gear 93 which meshes with a gear 94 on the shaft 67 This connection causes the blades-90 in the two receptacles to rotate whenever the conveyer mechanism is driven. I

It is desirable that the blades 90 have a quick action while in engagement with theto be fed. upwardly by the-conveyer. To accomplish this I make the gears 93 and 94 elliptical, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Thls gearing gives the blade :1 slow movement during the upper half of its rotation, during which time the coal is fed upwardly into'the space in the receptacles beneath the shaft 92, as indicated at E in F ig. 6. Then, as the blade swings downwardly and forwardly on the lower part of its rotation, it engages the coal on the top of the supply with a quick movement which throws it through the fire box opening onto the fire, as indicated at E. On account of the wear encountered by the blade 90, in periodically engaging the coal in the manner described, I reinforce it near its edge by a hardened plate or strip 95 removably bolted to it. Accordingly, this strip may be replaced whenever worn out.

The action of the throwing blade in the receptacle is to toss the coal diagonally upwardly into the fire box. To properly regulate the distance to which it is thus thrown,

I provide an adjustable deflector plate 100 in thefire box opening. This deflector plate is connected by suitable arms 101 with a shaft 102 extending across the. two receptacles and mounted in bearings in the walls thereof. This shaft extends to the outer side of the receptacle 45 and is there provided with a suitable lever 105 by which it may be turned to position the deflector 100. This lever is shown as provided with a hand grip 106 operating a pawl adapted to engage a stationary segment 108 and thus lock the lever and deflector in any desired position.

To maintain the shaft 92 cool enough so that it will not interfere with the lubrication of its bearings and prevent the blade 90 and deflector plate 100 frombeing burned by the heat of fire, I arrange the following air passages: The shaft 92 is made hollow,

and there are openings 97 between the hoppers 45 and 46 and the ends of the shaft,

which permit airto pass inwardly from each side of the hoppers along the interior of this shaft and outwardly through slots 98 onto the throwing blade. The shaft 102 is also made hollow and has similarly arranged openings between the hoppers, and has its ends open at the outer sides of the hoppers 100 respectively, thus keeping these parts comparatively cool.

i To further insure cool bearings for both of these shafts, I provide bushings 112 tightly held in the bearing members 114 on the sides of the hoppers 45 and 46. These bushings have grooves 01' flues 115 through which air may pass into the hoppers by reason of the draft.' Thus, these bearings are kept comparatively cool and may be satisfactorily lubricated with a semi-solid lubricant carried in a suitable grease cup 116, Fig. 14.

To enable the attendant in the locomotive to observe the action in the receptacles, I make the top of the receptacle in the form of a hinged plate 88, which may be turned" up, disclosing the interior. A suitable doorway B in the locomotive independently of the receptacles enables observation of the fire bed. This doorway also provides-means for originally laying the fire or for feeding by hand in starting the locomotive, or at any time the engine 62 may not be available.

It will be seen that by my mechanism the coal may be fed continuously and automatically from the tender to the fire bed.

The attendant occasionally observing the condition .of the fire bed through the door B and the condition. of the coalin the receptacles by raising the lids 88, varies the speed of the conveyers according to whether more or less coal is desired, and varies the position of the deflectors 100 from time to time, to properly distribute the coal. The coal in. the tender falls automatically onto the shaking grate and it is onlynecessary for the attendant occasionally to move coal toward the center when the supply runs low.

When sufficient coal has been fed to the fire to last for a time, the feeding may be.

temporarily discontinued by controlling the mechanism at the grate in any convenient manner. For example, I may merely shut off the steam supply through the pipe .120

leading to the engine 62 by operating a valve 122. 7

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a simple automent of coal along the worm troughs in thepassage between the shaft of the worm and the casing therefor. The advantage of so arranging the worms as to take care of occasional lumps is that coal of more economical size than the slack, which most stokers must use, may be handled by my stoker.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is: p

1. In a locomotive stoker, the combination of means on the locomotive for feeding coal to the fire box, including a conveyer, a

separate conveyer on the tender freely overhanging the conveyer on the locomotive and adapted to feed coal into a position to drop by gravity into the locomotive conveyer and a movable grate on the tender for causing a regulated flow of coal to the tender conveyer.

2. In a locomotive stoker, the combination with throwing means adjacent to the fire 'fire box side by side and in communication with the fire box, a single conveyer, upward conduits from the conveyer to the end portions of both receptacles, a shaft extending across two receptacles, blades on said shaft within the respective receptacles, and mechanism for rotating saidshaft.

4. The combination of a pair of receptacles secured side by side to theend of the fire box and in communication with the interior thereof, a shaft extending through said receptacles and having its bearings on the side walls thereof, a pair of blades on said shaft located within the respective receptacles, mechanism on the shaft for rotating it, a conveyer having a casing, and a pair of diverging conduits leading from the inner end of the conveyer upwardly to the lower ends of the receptacles.

5. In an automatic stoker, the combination of a receptacle in communication with the fire box, a movable blade in said receptacle, means for giving it movement to position the coal into the fire box, a movable deflector in the path of the coal, means for operating said deflector including a shaft, 3

there being a shaft for the blade, both of said shafts being hollow and having openings within the receptacle-whereby air may pass along the shafts into the receptacle and outwardly into contact with the blade and deflector respectively.

6. In ,an automatic stoker, the combination of a receptacle in communication with thBIIItQIIOI of a firebox, a movable device in said receptacle controlling the feeding of the coal, a shaft for operating said device having a bearing in the wall of the receptacle, and longitudinal passages surrounding the shaft at the bearing whereby air HAMILTON LINDSAY,

may pass into the receptacle to keep the 

